Auger type dumping bunk feeder



1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM ETAL 3,292,585

AUGER TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1964 I NVE N TORS Fwvofifiuscnaolw BY GLEND. HANJEN 3 1 k Li /i kzl/ lLlz l ILN N I E ham I flrramvsvr Dec- 20, 1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM ETAL 3,292,585

AUGER TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER Filed Dec. 5, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY GLENB hA/vJE/v WMMxW ATTaRwEYJ Dec. 20, 1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM ETAL, 3,292,585

AUGER TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER Filed Dec. 3, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TORJ fiarofifiwcwsom BY GLEND HANSEN WMMM Arron/V514:

Dec. 20, 1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM ETAL 3,292,535

AUGER TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 5, 1964 INVENTORJ FL 070 E. Bl/JCHBOM HANJEN @MJW.

BY GLEN Q ATTORNEYS 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm m man R 5 Z; G. m8 .1 D .,.n F W, Z F A F. E. BUSCHBOM ETAL Dec. 20, 1966 AUGER TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER Filed Dec. 3, 1964 Dec. 20, 1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM ETA'L 3,

AUGEH TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER Filed Dec. '5, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet e FIG. 6

INVENTORS fiorofiBusc/vaom BY GLEN HANJEN ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM ETAL 3,292,585

AUGER TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER Filed Dec. 3, 1964 v 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 r L. u ll. INVENTOR.

Elam L". Ewe/150M BY GLEND. flA/vsm yvw/mq ATTORNEYJ Dec. 20, 1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM ETAL 3,

AUGER TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER Filed Dec. 5, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORJ' fiamfifiwcuaom BY GLEN D HANSEN Arron/vs YJ' United States Patent 3,292,585 AUGER TYPE DUMPING BUNK FEEDER Floyd E. Buschbom, Long Lake, and Glen D. Hansen, Maple Plain, Minn., assignors to VanDale Corporation, Wayzata, Minm, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Dec. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 415,671 22 Claims. (Cl. 119-52) This invention relates to materials conveying and handling equipment and more particularly to an improved bunk feeder operable to convey bulk feed materials, such as livestock feeds, ensilage, haylage, grain and the like, in an elongated path extended over a feed bunk and to discharge substantially all the conveyed bulk feed materials at substantially the same time into a feed bunk uniformly throughout the length thereof.

Prior to the development of silo unloaders the livestock farmer manually fed his cattle silage and similar feeds using shovels, carts, baskets and like hand tools. The silage, normally stored in a tower silo, was first removed from the silo and then distributed in mangers or feed hunks accessible to the cattle. This is a time consuming and laborious feeding operation.

The silo unloader was developed to mechanically remove feed from tower silos. In operation the silo unloader delivers to the base of the silo a steady stream of feed. To complete the mechanization of the feeding operation a mechanical conveyor known as a bunk feeder was developed to transport this stream of feed to the feed bunk.

The feeds handled by the bunk feeder vary from solids to liquids and are heavy or light and compact or loose. The bunk feeder must convey and discharge feed which is extremely moist and in some instances a liquid slurry and feed which is frozen and extremely hard. Under certain conditions the feed is a dry, light and fluffy material mixed with heavier material, i.e. dry grass silage mixed with shelled corn and feed supplement. The bunk feed must be adapted to eifectively operate with these wide types of feeds.

A recent advance in livestock feed has been the development of haylage. This feed comprises grass silage having a moisture content between 40 to 55 percent. The major portion of haylage is short cut grass. The remaining minor portion of the haylage comprises long strands of grass uniformly mixed with the short cut grass. This mixture of short and long cut grass has the characteristics of uniting into a solid mass when subjected to pressure and turning movement. When moved by the prior art bunk feeder haylage tends to accumulate in hard pads and wads which block the flow of feed in the feeder. The result is that the conveying angers bend and are often broken and the auger supporting bearings are damaged and destroyed. In bunk feeders which use an anger riding in a trough or tube, the auger whip and bends in the trough, has excessive wear, and creates a large amount of noise.

It is the object of this invention to provide a bunk feeder which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior bunk feeders and is effectively operable to convey and discharge all types of feed materials including haylage to a feed bunk.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bunk feeder for discharging an elongated ribbon of feed into a feed bunk to simultaneously provide feed for a large number of animals thereby eliminating animal crowding which occurs when feed is progressively delivered to a feed bunk.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bunk feeder having a rotatably supported augertype conveying unit operable to transport and store bulk 3,292,585 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 feed materials in an elongated path and a gate member having a closed position for confining the transported bulk feed materials adjacent the auger and an open position permitting all of the confined bulk feed materials to fall into a'feed bunk.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk feeder which will convey a mixture of ensilage, grain, haylage, mixed with feed supplements or the like uniformly throughout the length of the bunk feeder without substantial separation of the mixture.

Another object of the invention i to provide a bunk feeder having trough-like structure and an auger, with means for rotatably supporting and adjustably positioning the auger in spaced relation relative to the troughlike structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bunk feeder having trough-like structure and a conveying unit, with suspension means supporting the conveying unit in a spaced and floating relation with respect to the troughlike structure.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bunk feeder having a plurality of auger sections rotatably carried in an end-to-end relative relation by suspension assemblies with means providing for the continuous movement of the bulk feed materials past the suspension assemblies.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for and method of dispensing bulk material into a contain-er, such as a feed bunk.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bunk feeder with an electrical control system operable in response to an amount of bulk feed materials in a conveyor assembly to actuate a clutch to effect a dumping of substantially all of the bulk feed materials in the conveyor assembly into a feed bunk at the same time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bunk feeder having a conveying unit and a hopper which are adjustable relative to a trough-like structure.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a rugged bunk feeder having low power requirements with high feeding capacity which i relatively simple and economical in construction, readily installed in a practical manner and efiicient, relatively noiseless, and reliable in operation.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying d-rawings in which the same numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a foreshortened side elevational view of the bunk feeder of this invention in an assembled relation with a feed bunk shown in longitudinal vertical section;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4 with parts broken away to show the adjustable hanger assembly for the auger;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 with parts broken away to show the adjustable hanger assembly for the auger;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of the bunk feeder of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 9--9 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line Ill-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the clutch mechanism taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical control system of the bunk feeder of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIGURE 1 the bunk feeder of this invention indicated generally at 15 assembled on a feed bunk 16. The feed bunk 16 is shown as an elongated wood container or box having an open top, a substantially horizontal floor or bottom wall 17, and upright side walls 18. The bunk 16 may be of metal or concrete construction and has a width which is sufiicient to confine substantial quantities of bulk feed materials, such as livestock roughages, silage, haylage and similar feeds.

The bunk feeder 15 comprises a hopper 19 for receiving bulk feed materials. The hopper 19 is substantially V=shaped in transverse cross-section and is supported on the bunk bottom wall 17 by stands 21 and 22. A conveyor assembly 23 projects linear-1y from the discharge section of the hopper 19 and is supported on the bunk bottom wall 17 by a plurality of stands 24 and 26. The conveyor assembly 23 consists of a plurality of substantially. identical sections with each section being supported at its opposite ends by stands similar to the stands 24 and 26. The length of the conveyor assembly 23 may thus be varied in accordance with the size of the feeding operation.

A conveying unit 27 illustrated as an anger is positioned adjacent the apex section of the hopper 19 and extends along the length of the conveyor assembly 23. In the conveyor assembly 23 the conveying unit 27 is positioned above a bottom gate or closure member 28 which is movable between open and closed positions for discharging bulk feed materials into the feed bunk 16. The conveying unit 27 and the bottom gate 28 are operated by a drive mechanism indicated generally at 29.

In use, the drive mechanism 29 rotates the conveying unit 27 moving bulk feed materials from the hopper 19 into the conveyor assembly 23, carrying the bulk feed materials in an elongated path and progressively storing bulk feed materials above the bottom gate 28. When the bulk feed materials reach the upstream end of the conveyor assembly 23 a clutch in the drive mechanism 29 is actuated in response to a build up of bulk feed materials in the upstream end of the conveyor assembly 23 to move the bottom gate 28 to an open position whereby all of the bulk feed materials in the conveyor assembly 23 are simultaneously dumped into the feed bunk 16. The clutch and the control system for the clutchin the drive mechanism 29 is described hereinafter in detail.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the hopper 19 has a V-shaped side wall 31 secured to end walls 32 and 33. This struc ture forms an open top container or bin adapted to collect bulk feed materials, such as silage and similar animal feeds. A pair of vertically spaced horizontal angle members 34 and 36 are secured to the end wall 32. The angle members 34 and 36 have outwardly projected flanges slidably receiving a pair of upright legs 37 and 38 of the stand 21. A cross beam 39 is secured to the top ends of the legs 37 and 38. The bottom sections of the legs 37 and 38 are slidably received in upright tubular members 41 and 42 secured to the bottom wall 17 of the feed bunk 16.

The hopper 19 is adjustably connected to the stand 21 by an upright threaded bolt 43 projected through. a hole in the center section of the cross beam 39. The

bolt 43 is threaded into a nut 44 secured to the center section of the angle member 34. The top end of the bolt 43 has a head 46 carrying a handle 47. The elevation of the hopper 19 may be changed by rotating the handle 47 thereby changing the position of the nut 44 on the threaded bolt 43. This moves the hopper 19 relative to the stand 21.

As shown in FIGURE 3 a pair of vertically spaced horizontal angle members 48 and 49 are secured to the 'hopper end wall 33. The angle members 48 and 49 have outwardly projected flanges slidably receiving a pair of spaced upright legs 51 and 52' of the stand 22. The upper ends of the legs 51 and 52 project through the angle member 48, and are secured to a cross beam 53.

The lower ends of the legs 51 and 52 are telescoped into tubular members 54 and 56 secured to the bottom wall 17 of the feed bunk 16. Set screws 55 threaded into mem bers 54 and 56 lock the legs 51 and 52 in selected vertical positions.

The hopper 19 is mounted for vertical adjustment on the stand 22 :by an upright threaded bolt 57 projected downwardly through the center section of the cross beam 53 and threadably received in a nut 58 securedto the center section of the angle member 48. A head 59 carrying a handle 61 is secured to the top of the bolt 57 and engages the cross beam 53. The elevation of the hopper 19 is changed by rotating the handle 61 which in turn changes the relative position of the bolt 57 with respect to nut 58.

The entire hopper 19 together with the portion of the conveying unit 27 in the hopper may be moved in upward and downward directions by rotating the threaded bolts 43 and 57 thereby permitting the horizontal angle members 34, 36, 48 and 49 to move along the legs 37 and 38, 51 and 52 respectively.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the conveying unit 27 projectsthrough a circular hole 62 in the bottom of the hopper end wall 33. The hole 62 is adjacent the base of the hopper and is open to the trough-like structure of the conveyor assembly 23.

, As shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, the trough-like structure comprises a J-shaped side wall 64 and an upwardly and outwardly projected side wall 66 laterally spaced from and extended substantially parallel to the side wall 64. The upwardly and outwardly inclination of the side wall 66 minimizes binding and blocking of feed between the conveying unit 27 and side wall 66. The lower edge of the J-shaped side wall 64 terminates in a downwardly projecting flange 67 which is spaced from the side wall 66 forming therewith a linear slot 68. The bottom gate 28 closes the slot 68 thereby forming a storage groove for bulk feed materials along the bottom of the entire length of the trough-like structure.

The trough-like structure of the conveyor assembly 23 is secured to the legs of the stands 22, 24 and 26. As shown in FIGURE 3, the side wall 64 is mounted on a I-shaped bracket 69 secured to leg 52. Projected outwardly from the bottom portion of the bracket 69 is an car 71 secured to the leg 52. The side wall 64 is positioned adjacent the leg 51 and attached to a bracket 72 having outwardly directed flanges 73 and 74 secured by welds to the leg 51.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 7, the stands 24 and 26 include inverted U-shaped tubular members 76 and 77 arched over the conveyor assembly 23. The J-shaped side wall 64 is attached to the legs of the tubular members 76 and 77 by brackets 78 and 79 which are similar.

in shape to the bracket 69. Fastening devices such as bolt and nut assemblies 81 and 82 are used to attach the side wall 64 to the brackets 69, 78 and 79.

The side wall 66 is secured to the opposite legs of the tubular members 76 and 77 by brackets 83 and 84 which are similar in shape to the bracket 72. Fastening devices such as bolt and nut assemblies 86 and 87 attach the side wall 66 to the brackets 72, 83 and 84.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the conveying unit 27 comprises a plurality of end-to-end augers 88 and 89 having axially aligned shafts 91 and 92 carrying continuous helical flights 93 and 94. The radius of curvature of the helical flights 93 and 94 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the bottom section of the I-shaped side wall 66 so as to permit limited lateral movement of the angers 88 and 89. The adjacent ends of the shafts 91 and 92 are drivably connected with a coupling 96 inserted into the ends of the shafts and secured thereto by nut and bolt assemblies 97 and 98 (FIGURE 6). The coupling 96 maintains a spaced relation between the ends of the shafts 91 and 92 and fixes the angular relationship between the helical flights 93 and 94 so that they function to provide continuous movement of feed along the troughlike structure of the conveyor assembly 23.

The angers 88 and 89 are supported upon the stand 24 by a suspension assembly indicated at 99. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the suspension assembly 99 comprises an upright rod 101 having an upper threaded portion slidably disposed in an upright sleeve 102 secured to the mid-section of the base of the U-shaped tubular member 76. The rod 101 is slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the sleeve 102 to permit limited lateral movement and relatively free vertical movement of the rod 101 in the sleeve 102. Sleeve 102 projects downwardly from the base section of the inverted U-shaped member 76 and terminates adjacent the top of the trough-like structure formed by the side walls 64 and 66. A nut 103 carried on the upper section of the rod 101 engages the top of the sleeve 102 to limit the downward movement of the rod 101 and adjust the vertical position of the rod 101 with respect to the sleeve 102. The lower end of the rod 101 is secured to a bearing 104 positioned about the cylindrical mid-section of the coupling 96. In other words, the angers 88 and 89 are rotatably supported by the bearing 104 together with the rod 101 and nut 103. v

The elevation of the helical flights 93 and 94 may be adjusted by turning the nut 103 to either raise or lower the rod 101 thus changing the vertical position of the auger with respect to the side wall 64 to either increase or decrease the clearance between the auger and the curved bottom section of the J-shaped side wall 64. This clearance is normally a relatively short distance and is sufficient to prevent rubbing contact thereby eliminating wear and noise.

As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the opposite end or downstream end of the auger 89 is rotatably carried by a suspension assembly 106 substantially identical in construction with the suspension assembly 99. The assembly 106 has a bearing 107 positioned about a tubular stub shaft 108. A portion of the stub shaft 108 projects into the end of the auger shaft 92 and is secured thereto by nut and bolt assembly 109. The bearing 107 is attached to an upright rod 111 slidably disposed in a downwardly projected sleeve 112 secured to the base or intermediate bight portion of the tubular member 77 of the stand 26. The rod 111 is slightly small in diameter than the inside diameter of the sleeve 112 to permit limited lateral movement and relatively free vertical movement of the rod 111 in the sleeve 102. The upper end of the rod 111 is threaded and carries a nut 113 which coacts with the upper end of the sleeve 112 to limit the downward movement of the rod 111 and thereby controls the elevation of the auger 89.

The suspension assemblies 99 and 106 enable the augers 88 and 89 to freely float upwardly and to move laterally or sideways in the trough-like structure. This floating movement of the angers 88 and 89 allows the angers to raise and move sideways to eliminate binding and build up of feed between the angers and the trough side walls 64 and 66. The elimination of binding and packing of feed, as haylage, in the conveyor assembly 23 reduces power requirements of and repairs on the bunk feeder 15.

To prevent boiling and a build up of bulk feed mater-ials adjacent the suspension assembly 99, a curved plate 114 is secured to the pickup or leading edge of the helical flight 94. As shown in FIGURE 5, the plate 114 has a half moon shape and projects transversely of the auger shaft 92. The straight edgeof the plate 114 is secured to the end of the flight 94. The radius of curvature of the periphery of the plate 114 is greater than one-half the diameter of the anger 89.

From the foregoing description it is seen that the hopper 19 and auger type conveying unit 27 are vertically adjustable as a unit with respect to thetrough-like structure of the conveyor assembly 23. Theelevation of the section of the conveying unit 27 in the hopper is fixed and is changed on vertical movement of the hopper 19. The elevation of the section of the conveying unit 27 in the trough-like structure is changed by adjustment of the suspension assemblies 99 and 106. This is accomplished by turning the nuts 46 and 59 to change the elevation of the hopper 19 and by adjusting of the nuts 103 and 113 to change the elevation of the rods 101 and 111. These adjustments change the entire elevation of the angers 88 and 89 while maintaining the axial alignment of the auger shafts 91 and 92.

The conveyor assembly 23 is maintained in assembled and aligned relationship with the feed bunk 16 by the stands 24 and 26. As shown in FIGURE 5, the stand 24 has downwardly projected tubular legs 115 and 116 which telescope over upright posts 117 and 118. The lower end of the posts 117 and 118 are secured to a transverse angle member 119 resting on the floor 17 of the'feed bunk 16. Set screws 120 threaded into legs 115 and 116 are used to lock the legs 115 and 116 in adjusted positions on the posts 117 and 118. This permits adjustment of the elevation of the entire conveying unit 27 with respect to the feed bunk 16. Referring to FIGURE 7, it is seen that the stand 26 has downward-1y projecting tubular legs 121 and 122 which telescope over upright posts 123 and 124. The lower ends of the posts 123 and 124 are secured to a transverse angle member 126 resting on the floor 17 of the feed bunk. Set screws.

threaded into legs 121 and 122 lock the legs in adjusted positions on the posts 123 and 124.

The bottom gate 28 under the trough-like structure comprises a channel-shaped member 127 extended along. the entire length of the conveyor assembly 23. As shown in FIGURES 3, 5 and 7, the channel-shaped member 127 has downwardly directed flanges and a horizontal web closing the slot 68. A plurality of arms 128, 129 and 131 support the channel-shaped member for angular movement in a horizontal plane between an open position shown in broken lines and a closed position shown in full lines. Each of the arms 128, 129 and 131 have down turned ends 132 projected into upright sleeves 133 secured to the legs of the stands 22, 24 and 26. The down turned ends 132 are free to rotate about upright axes in the sleeves 133. The opposite ends of the arms 128, 129 and 131 carry upright sleeves 134 which function as bearings for upright pins 136. The top ends of the pins 136 carry horizontal plates 137 secured to the bottom of the web of the channel-shaped member 127.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 9, the arm 128 has a downwardly projected rod member 138 carrying a sleeve bearing 139 secured to an adjustable control link 141. The channel-shaped member 127 moves in response to the movement of the control link 141 from the closed position shown in full lines to an open position shown in dotted lines to effect the discharge of bulk feed materials from the conveyor assembly 23. These positions may be changed by adjusting the length of the link 141. An electrical-mechanical control system described hereinafter in detail operates in response to the amount of bulk feed materials in the conveyor assembly to move the control link 141.

The drive mechanism 29, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, comprises a first power transmission 142 mounted on an upright plate 143 secured to the side wall of the hopper 19. The transmission 142 has a power input shaft 144 carrying a pulley 146, a first power output shaft 147 connected in a driving relation by a pin 148 to the shaft 91 of the auger 88 and a second power output shaft 149 carrying a pulley 151. The power transmission 142 is driven by an electric motor 152 having a drive pulley 153 positioned in alignment with the pulley 146. Belt 154 trained about the pulleys 146 and 153 functions to transmit power from the motor 152 to the transmission 142.

The motor 152 is carried on a pair of horizontal angle.

members 156 and 157 which have openings (not shown) adjacent their opposite ends for receiving the legs 37 and 38 of the stand 21. The angle member 156 is attached to the angle member 34 by a pair of upright nut and bolt assemblies 158 and 159 which are adjustable to change the vertical position of the motor 152 and thus tighten the belt 154. V

A second power transmission 161 is mounted on the plate 143 below the transmission 142. The transmission 161 has a power output shaft 162 and a power input shaft 163 carrying a pulley 164 which is in alignment with the pulley 151. A V-belt 166 trained about the pulleys 151 and 164 transmits power from the first transmission 142 to the second transmission 161.

A clutch mechanism indicated generally at 167 is carried on the power output shaft 162 and includes a crank arm 168 pivotally connected at its outer end with a universal coupling 169 to the control link 141. The clutch mechanism 167 performs intermittent clutching operations to drive the control link 141 which in turn swings the gate 28 between its open and closed positions.

As shown in FIGURES and 11, the clutch mechanism 167 comprises a sleeve 171 non-rotatably fixed by a pin 172 to the output shaft 162 of the power transmission 161. A similar sleeve 173 is rotatably mounted on the outer end of the shaft 162 by a washer 174 and a cap screw 176 threaded into the end of the shaft 162. A yielding helix 177, shown as a coil spring, surrounds the aligned sleeves 171 and 173 and has an end 178 positioned in an opening 179 in a collar 181 mounted on the sleeve 173. The collar 181 carries a set screw 182 which releasably secures the collar 181 to the sleeve 173. The opposite end 183 of the helix 177 is positioned in a socket 184 in an outer sleeve 186 which embrace the helix 177.

When the sleeve 186 is allowed to rotate freely, the helix 177 frictionally engages the sleeve 171 causing the helix 177 to wrap tightly abut the sleeve 171 thereby drivably coupling the sleeve 171 with the sleeve 173. When the helix 177 is contracted about the sleeve 171 it simul-.

taneously tightens about the outer sleeve 173 to form a tight frictional grip and thereby establish a driving relation between the axially aligned sleeves 171 and 173. The two sleeves 171 and 173 will continue to rotate together so long as the embracing sleeve 186 is free to rotate.

As shown in FIGURE 10, the sleeve 186 carries a longitudinal rod 187 engageable with a pawl 188 having a tooth 189. The lower end of the pawl 188 is pivotally mounted by a bolt 191 to a bracket 192 secured to the plate 143. The pawl 188 is biased into engagement with the sleeve 186 by a spring 193 connected at its upper end by a bolt 194 to the mid-section of the pawl 188 and connected at its lower end by a bolt 196 to the plate 143. When the'pawl 188 engages the sleeve 186 and the tooth 189 contacts the rod 187 the sleeve 186 is held against rotation. With the sleeve 186 held stationary the end 184 of the, helix 177 is fixed so that any tendency on the part of the sleeve 173 to rotate will move the end 178 of the helix 177 in a direction with respect to the now stationary helix end 183 so as to uncoil or expand the helix 177 releasing the frictional grip thereof upon the aligned sleeves 171 and 173. Under these circumstances, sleeve 171 ro- 8 tates freely within the helix and the shaft 162 rotates within the outer sleeve 173. Since the sleeve 173 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 162 its arm 168 together with the control link 141 remains stationary.

Referring to FIGURE 10, it is seen that the pawl 188 is pivoted to a release position shown in broken lines by a solenoid 197 mounted on the upper part of a bracket secured to the plate 143. The solenoid 197 has a movable core 198 pivotably connected by a link 199 to the top of the pawl 188. Energization of the solenoid 197 pivots the pawl 188 out of engagement with the rod 187 thereby permitting engagement of the clutch mechanism 167.

The solenoid 197 is energized through the action of a switch 201 mounted on a door 202 positioned adjacent the output end of the conveying unit 27. The switch 201 is a mercury unit actuatable to an on position in response to pivotal movement of the door202. As shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8, the door 202 comprises a fiat plate the upper end of which carries a horizontal rod 203. A pair of J-shaped brackets 204 and 206 rotatably receive the rod 202 and connect the door to a horizontal angle member 207 secured to the upper portions of the legs 121 and 122 of the stand 26. The rod 203 together with the J-shaped brackets 204 and 206 form hinge joints rotatably mounting the door 202 for movement about a horizontal axis. When the door 202 is in the closed position shown by full lines in FIGURE 8 it lies in an upright plane adjacent the end of the slot 68 formed by the side walls 64 and 66.

The switch 201 is held in a horizontal position by a clamp 208 secured to a table 209 projected outwardly from the door 202. The top of the switch 201 and clamp 208 is enclosed by an inverted U-shaped shield 211;

The door 202 is pivoted to an open position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 8 in response to bulk feed ma-. terials moved by the conveying unit 24 along the path de-.

fined by the slot 68. Upon pivotal movement of the door 202 the switch 201 under the influence of gravity is actuated to the on position connecting the solenoid 197 to a source of electrical power thereby permitting the automatic engagement. of the clutch mechanism 167 with the result that the gate 28 is moved to its open position. When the gate 28 is open substantially all of the bulk feed materials in the elongated slot 68 and on the bottom section of the J-shaped side wall 64 are discharged into the feed bunk 16. As soon as the bulk feed materials move from the door 202 it returns to the normal upright position.

The electrical control system for the bunk feeder 15 is shown in FIGURE 12 and comprises a manually operated olT-on switch 212 for coupling the electric motor 152 and solenoid 197 to an electrical power source 213. The elec-.

trical energy supplied to the switch 201 is reduced to approximately 27 volts by a transformer 214. The switch 201 is operable to control the flow of electric current to a relay switch 216 having a conductor 217 for coupling the solenoid 197 to the electrical source 213 so as to permit the automatic engagement of the clutch mechanism 167. The position of the conductor 217 is controlled by a solenoid 218 connected in series with switch 201 so that,

when the switch 201 is in the closed position solenoid 218 is energized and conductor 217 is moved to a closed position connecting the clutch solenoid 197 with the electrical power source 213.

In use, with the switch 212 closed, the electric motor 52 drives the power transmission 142 which in turn rotates the augers 88 and 89 comprising the conveying unit 27 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the upstream end thereof. The feeding operation is commenced when bulk feed materials such as silage is placed in the hopper 19. The auger 88 carries the bulk feed materials through the hopper opening 62 into the conveyor assembly 23 along an elongated path defined by the trough-like structure formed by the side walls 64 and 66 and the slot 68. The channel-shaped member 127 of the bottom gate 28 is positioned adjacent the slot 68 thereby confining the bulk feed materials to the trough-like structure. The conveying unit 27 progressively moves the bulk feed materials toward the far or upstream end of the bunk feeder and into engagement with the door 202. Since the augers 88 and 89 are free to move in an upward direction and have limited lateral movement, the upstream movement of the bulk materials is not impeded. This floating movement of the augers 88 and 89 minimizes packing of feed materials between the trough side walls 64 and 66 and the angers 88 and 89.

The suspension assemblies 99 and 106 rotatably and fioatably support the angers 88 and 89 above the bottom section of the J-shaped side wall 64 so as to prevent contact between the peripheral portions of the helical flights 93 and 94 and the J-shaped side wall 64. The flow of bulk feed materials past the suspension assembly 99 has a minimum of interference and is kept from plugging by the half-moon shape plate 114 secured to the leading edge of the auger flight 94.

When the bulk feed materials are evenly distributed along the conveyor assembly 23 the door 202 will be moved outwardly as indicated in FIGURE 12 by arrow 219 to the tilt or open position thereby automatically closing the switch 201 and energizing the relay solenoid 218. This couples the electrical power source 213 with the clutch solenoid 197. The energized solenoid 197 moves the pawl 188 out of engagement with the sleeve 186 thereby permitting the automatic engagement of the clutch mechanism 167. Upon engagement of the clutch mechanism 167 crank arm 168 rotates moving the control link 141 to pull the gate 28 to the open position as shown in broken lines in FIGURES 3, and 7. With the gate 28 open all of the bulk feed materials in the conveyor assembly 23 are simultaneously discharged into the feed bunk 16. In other words, all of the bulk feed materials stored in the slot 68 and carried by the trough-like structure are simultaneously discharged as an elongated ribbon of bulk feed materials into the feed bunk 16 uniformly along the entire length thereof.

As soon as the bulk feed materials in the conveyor assembly 23 have been discharged into the feed bunk 16 the door 282 swings back to the closed position thereby opening the switch 201 which in turn deenergizes the relay solenoid 218 opening the relay switch thereby disconnecting the solenoid 197 with the power source 213. With the holding force of the solenoid 197 released pawl 188 under the biasing influence of the spring 193 moves into engagement with the sleeve 186 of the clutch mechanism 167. As the clutch mechanism 167 Completes its cycle the rod 187 moves into engagement with the pawl tooth 189 terminating the rotation of the sleeve 186 and thereby releasing the grip of the helix 177 of the clutch mechanism 167. When the clutch 167 is in this. position the gate 28 is adjacent the bottom of the slot 68. The bunk feeder 15 is now set for another dumping operation.

In terms of a method of placing bulk feed materials, into an elongated feed bunk 16 the invention comprises the steps of receiving bulk feed materials from a storage location by collecting bulk feed materials in the hopper 19 and conveying the bulk feed materials from the hopper 19 in an elongated path defined by the conveyor assembly 23 above and along the top of a feed bunk 16. As the bulk feed materials are conveyed or moved along the conveyor assembly 23 by the conveying unit 27 they are progessively stored in the slot 68 and in the space between the conveying unit 27 and the side wall 66 so that an elongated ribbon of bulk feed materials having a substantially uniform cross-section will eventually extend from the hopper 19 to the door 202. Buildup of bulk feed materials at the door 202 pivots the door to the open position, shown in FIGURE 8, so as to cause the actuation of the switch 201 which signals the actuator for the clutch mechanism 167 of the drive mechanism 29 to operate the clutch mechanism which in turn opens the bottom gate 28 and thereby dump substantially all of the bulk feed materials stored in the elongated ribbon at substantially the same time into the feed bunk 16. After the bulk feed materials are dumped into the feed bunk 16 the bottom gate 28 is returned to its normally closed osition throughthe operation of the clutch mechanism 167. The feeder 15 is not set up for a second dumping operation.

The material conveying and handling machine of this invention has been described as a bunk feeder for feeding agricultural materials to animals. This use is not to be construed as limiting the invention to bunk feeders or machines that discharge feed to domestic creatures, as livestock, hogs and fowl. The disclosed material conveying and handling machine is adapted to operate to convey and deposit bulk materials other than agricultural bulk feeds.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Means for distributing materials in a bunk or the like comprising in combination a conveyor assembly for transporting materials along an elongated path above the bunk, said conveyor assembly including trough-like means having an opening in a portion thereof, gate means positionable adjacent said opening to revent movement of materials through said opening and conveying means positioned in said trough-like means operable to move materials along said elongated path; and support means mounting said conveyor assembly above the bunk, said support means including suspension means for rotatably supporting the conveying means in spaced relation with respect to the trough-like means, said suspension means including a stationary member and movable means connected to said conveying means, said movable means having a loose upright sliding association with the stationary member whereby the conveying means is in an upright floating and spaced relation with respect to the trough-like means.

2. Means for distributing materials in a bunk or the like comprising in combination a conveyor assembly for transporting materials along an elongated path above the bunk, said conveyor assembly including trough-like means having an opening in a portion thereof, and conveying means positioned in said trough-like means operable to move materials along said elongated path; and support means mounting said conveyor assembly above the bunk, said support means including suspension means for rotatably supporting the conveying means in spaced relation with respect to the trough-like means, said suspension means including a stationary member and movable means connected to said conveying means, said movable means having a loose upright sliding association with the stationary member whereby the conveying means is in an upright floating and spacedrelation with respect to the trough-like means.

3. Means for distributing bulk materials in a bunk or the like comprising in combination hopper means for collecting bulk materials; a conveyor assembly for transporting bulk materials from said hopper means along an elongated path above the bunk, said conveyor assembly including trough-like means having an opening in a portion thereof, gate means positionable adjacent said open ing to prevent movement of bulk materials through said opening and auger means positioned in said trough-like -means and hopper means operable to move bulk materials from said hopper means along said elongated path; and support means mounting said conveyor assembly adjacent said hopper means above the bunk, said support means including suspension means for rotatably supporting the auger means in spaced relation with respect to the troughlike means, said suspension means including a first member and a second member, said second member connected to said auger means, said second member having a loose upright sliding fit with the first member whereby the auger means is in upright floating and spaced relation with respect to the trough-like means.

4. The means for distributing bulk materials of claim 3 wherein said suspension means includes adjustable means for changing the space relationship between the auger means and trough-like means.

5. The means for distributing bulk materials of claim 3 wherein said first member of the suspension means is an upright guide means, said second member is rod means having a loose vertical sliding fit in said guide means and bearing means carried on said auger means and connected to said rod means.

6. A bunk feeder for distributing bulk materials in a feed bunk comprising in combination a conveyor assembly for transporting bulk feed materials along an elongated path above the feed bunk, said conveyor assembly including trough-like means having an opening in the bottom portion thereof, gate means positionable adjacent said opening to prevent movement of bulk feed materials through said opening and auger means positioned in said trough-like means operable to move bulk feed materials in said elongated path; and support means mounting said conveyor assembly above the feed bunk, said support means including rod means having a bearing for rotatably supporting the auger means in the trough-like means and guide means mounting the rod means for substantially free movement in an upright plane, said rod means having a loose vertical sliding fit with said guide means.

7. A conveyor assembly for moving bulk feed materials along an elongated path comprising a first auger having an axial shaft carrying a helical flight, a second auger having an axial shaft carrying a helical flight, coupling means connecting the shafts of the first and second augers in an end-to-end relative relationship with the flights of the first and second augers following a continuous helical path, trough-like means for confining the bulk feed materials in the elongated path, and suspension means rotatably connected to said coupling means for supporting said first and second auger means within said trough-like means with said helical flights in spaced relation with respect to the trough-like means, said suspension means including a stationary member and movable means connected to said coupling means, said movable means connected to said coupling means and having a loose upright sliding fit with the stationary member whereby the first and second augers are in upright floating association and in spaced relation with respect to the trough-like means.

8. A support for a first auger and a second auger connected in end-to-end relation with a coupling comprising, an inverted U-shaped stand having an intermediate bight portion, an upright sleeve secured to the bight portion, rod means slidably positioned with a loose upright fit in said sleeve, means for adjusting the position of said rod means relative to the sleeve, and bearing means secured to said rod means and rotatably connected to said coupling whereby said first and second auger are carried by said stand.

9. The support defined in claim 8 wherein the means for adjusting the rod means includes means for limiting the downward movement of the rod means relative to the sleeve.

10. A support for a first auger and a second auger connected in end-to-end relation with a coupling comprising, stand means having a section located above said coupling, upright sleeve means secured to said section, rod means slidably positioned with a' loose upright fit in said sleeve means, means for adjusting the upright position of said rod means relative to the sleeve means, and bearing means secured to said rod means and rotatably connected to said coupling whereby said first and second auger are carried by said stand means.

11. A support for an auger having an axial shaft comprising, stand means having a section located above said auger, upright sleeve means secured to said section, rod means slidably positioned witth a loose upright fit in said sleeve means, means for adjusting the upright osition of said rod means relative to the sleeve means, and bearing means secured to said rod means and rotatably connected to said axial shaft whereby said auger is carried by said stand means. 7

12. A support for an anger having an axial shaft comprising, stand means having a section located above said auger, upright sleeve means secured to said section, rod means slidably positioned with a loose upright fitjin said sleeve means, stop means for limiting the downward movement of said rod means relative to the sleeve means, and

bearing means secured to said rod means and rotatably connected to said axial shaft whereby said auger; is carried by said stand means.

13. A support for an auger-type conveying unit comprising stand means having a section located adjacent said conveying unit, sleeve means secured to said section and projected toward said conveying unit, rod means slidably positioned with a loose upright fit in said sleeve means, means for adjusting the position of the rod means relative to the sleeve means and means rotatably carried on said conveying unit and secured to said rod means whereby said conveying unit is carried by said stand.

14. A support for an auger having an axial shaft comprising: stand means having a section located above said auger, bearing means rotatably connected to said axial shaft, means coupling the bearing means to said section of the stand means thereby supporting the auger on the stand means, said coupling means incudes an upright tubular sleeve means, rod means slidably disposed with a loose fit in the sleeve means, said rod means extended through said sleeve means and having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the sleeve means whereby the rod means has relatively free upward movement and limited lateral movement and nut means threaded on the upper end of the rod means enga-geable with the sleeve means to limit downward movement of the rod means.

15. A bunk feeder for distributing bulk feed materials in a feed bunk comprising in combination, a hopper, means,

for supporting the hopper above the feed bunk, said means having adjustable members operable to change the elevation of the hopper, trough-like means having an opening in the bottom portion thereof projected from said hopper, stand means for supporting the trough-like means above the feed bunk, gate means pivotally mounted on said stand means and positionable adjacent said opening to prevent movement of bulk feed materials through said opening, auger means positioned in said hopper and trough-like means operable to move bulk material from the hopper along the elongated path, suspension means connected to said stand means supporting the auger means for rotation, said suspension means having adjustable.

means for changing the elevation of the auger means with respect to the trough-like means and drive means for the bulk feed materials in the elongated path, suspension trough-like means with said helical flights in upward floating and spaced relation with respect to the troughlike means and tranverse plate means secured to the.

leading portion of the helical flight of the second auger to prevent build up of bulk feed materials in the area adjacent the suspension means.

17. The conveyor assembly of claim 16 wherein said plate means has a half moon shape and a diameter larger than the radius of the second auger.

18. The conveyor assembly defined in claim 16 wherein said suspension means includes upright tubular sleeve means, rod means slidably positioned with an upright loose fit in said sleeve means and bearing mean carried on said auger means and connected to said rod means.

19. In a conveyor assembly, a first auger having a helical flight, a second auger having a helical flight, coupling means connecting the first auger with the second anger in an end-to-end relative relationship with the flights of said augers following a substantially helical path, suspension means positioned between the adjacent ends of the augers and rotatably connected to said augers and transverse plate means located adjacent the suspension means and secured to the leading portion of the helical flight of the second auger to prevent build up of bulk material in the area adjacent the suspension means.

20. A control system for a bunk feeder having a conveyor for moving bulk feed materials in an elongated path from a first location to a second location, trough-like means positioned adjacent said conveyor, said trough-like means having an opening in the bottom portion thereof, an upright door pivotally mounted at the second location for movement about a generally horizontal axis, and gate means movable to a first position adjacent said opening to prevent movement of bulk material through said opening and to a second position to permit movement of bulk feed materials through said opening comprising clutch means connected to said gate means operable to move said gate means to said first and second positions, a control member for holding the clutch means disengaged, said member being movable from the clutch means to permit engagement of said clutch means, solenoid means for moving the member to engage the clutch means thereby moving the gate means from the first position to the second position, and positioned actuated switch means mounted on said door, said switch means on the pivotal movement of the door in response to bulk feed materials moved against said door closes the electric circuit for the solenoid whereby the solenoid moves the control member from the clutch means thereby permitting the clutch means to engage and move the gate means from the first position to the second position and back to the first position.

21. The control system defined in claim 20 wherein said member for holding the clutch means disengaged comprises a pivotably mounted pawl.

22. The control system defined in claim 20 wherein said position actuated switch means is a mercury switch mounted on the backside of the upright door.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,727 9/1952 Beldin 198-213 2,981,402 4/ 1961 Cleaveland 198-213 3,026,845 3/ 1962 Winter 11951.11 3,029,791 4/ 1962 Hacker 119-52 3,037,613 6/1962 Harmon 198-213 3,072,243 1/1963 Davis 198-213 3,105,586 10/1963 Carew et al. 198-64 3,108,572 10/1963 Reed 119-52 3,115,117 12/1963 Brelsford 119-56 3,116,715 1/ 1964 Krumheuer 119-52 3,125,991 3/1964 Van Dusen 119-56 3,197,016 7/1965 Jones 198-64 3,209,898 10/1965 Beebe et al 198-205 ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Acting Primary Examiner. 

12. A SUPPORT FOR AN AUGER HAVING AN AXIAL SHAFT COMPRISING, STAND MEANS HAVING A SECTION LOCATED ABOVE SAID AUGER, UPRIGHT SLEEVE MEANS SECURED TO SAID SECTION, ROD MEANS SLIDABLY POSITIONED WITH A LOOSE UPRIGHT FIT IN SAID SLEEVE MEANS, STOP MEANS FOR LIMITING THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OIF SAID ROD MEANS RELATIVE TO THE SLEEVE MEANS, AND BEARING MEANS SECURED TO SAID ROD MEANS AND ROTATABLY CONNECTED TO SAID AXIAL SHAFT WHEREBY SADI AUGER IS CARRIED BY SAID STAND MEANS.
 19. IN A CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY, A FIRST AUGER HAVING A HELICAL FLIGHT, A SECOND AUGER HAVING A HELICAL FLIGHT, COUPLING MEANS CONNECTING THE FIRST AUGER WITH THE SECOND AUGER IN AN END-TO-END RELATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FLIGHTS OF SAID AUGERS FOLLOWING A SUBSTANTIALLY HELICAL PATH, SUSPENSION MEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE AUGERS AND ROTATABLY CONNECTED TO SAID AUGERS AND TRANSVERSE PLATE MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT THE SUSPENSION MEANS AND SECURED TO THE LEADING PORTION OF THE HELICAL FLIGHT OF THE SECOND AUGER TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF BULK MATERIAL IN THE AREA ADJACENT THE SUSPENSION MEANS. 